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Here is a list of some of
the more noteworthy films of the past year (left column). Not all of these films were
made in 2006. Some were made in 2005 and some were released in 2005--
I saw them in 2006.
I would
suggest that 2006 was the greatest year in film ever.
This is not the same thing
as saying that 2006 was the year in which some of the greatest films of all
time were made. Not quite. But I am saying that 2006 may have
featured more terrific films than any time since the late 1960's and early
1970's (if you grouped them together).
In fact, I'll go further.
I think there were more terrific films in 2006 than in any other year ever.
That's not really all that illogical: there are more films being made around
the world today than ever before. There should
be more good films.
I probably see more films
every year than anyone else I personally know. For the first time I
can ever remember, I simply cannot get out to see all of the interesting
films. Maybe I'll catch up with some of them on DVD this summer, when,
traditionally, the more junky Hollywood spectaculars dominate the
Cineplex's. For right now, there are four or five new
films (Volver, King of Scotland, Good German all come to mind)
that I haven't had time to see yet, but are still playing. And what
about "Monkey Warfare"? And "Partition". And .... you see what I
mean?
Are audiences getting more
sophisticated? Are film-makers getting better? Probably both.
Twenty years ago nobody in North America-- except for some university
students-- would even have seen a movie like "The Death of Mr. Lazerescu", a
rather depressing foreign film in which there are no chases, no violence, no
gratuitous nudity or sex, and no action. It's a beautiful film.
I gave it a chance, though it started very slowly. Apparently a lot of
other people did too. Or how about "Pan's Labyrinth", which has become
something of hit, even though it is subtitled. Or a documentary like
"51 Birch Street" or "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room"?
It's a terrific time to be
a film fan.
All contents copyright © 2007 Bill Van Dyk All rights reserved.
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